A multicultural option that's equally intriguing but more unusual than Maia. Connected to water and the ocean, it is a Top 100 choice in Spain and Puerto Rico and has been rising up the charts in France and the UK in recent years. Alternative (and equally multicultural) spelling alternative Nya has also proved popular.

Possibility for a girl born under one of the water signs -- Cancer, Pisces, or Scorpio.

An aquatic Japanese choice that would work well cross-culturally. American parents are starting to pick up on this short and sweet international choice, with over 100 baby girls in the US receiving this name last year. Credit the mega-popular manga and animeOne Piece, which has a character named Nami, the Straw Hat Pirates' navigator. In the US, NAMI is the acronym for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

A great name for travel-lovers, with a fun alternative sound to Naomi.

The Narellan is the name of a river in New South Wales. From this name comes this quasi-French girls' name, which is quite common in Australia.

A Galician water and river goddess whose name is still used in Galicia today. It is also found as an elaboration of Hebrew Nava, meaning "beautiful". American actress Navia Robinson is a well-known bearer.

When you see it written out and know the meaning, it seems more distinctive than Neil. Pity everyone will understand it as simply, Neil or Neal.

A variation of Nila, a name spread through African by the substantial Indian population there. Also a variant of Neala and Neila.

It is said that if one wears a flawless blue sapphire, it can remove poverty and provide health, wealth, long life, happiness and prosperity.

This is one of the more unusual examples of a group of Greek names connected to the sea, which makes sense for a nation of coastline and islands. The Nereids or water nymphs were the daughters of sea god Nereus.

An offbeat possible replacement for the overused Melissa and Marisa, Nerissa was used by Shakespeare for Portia's witty confidante in The Merchant of Venice. Queen Elizabeth has a cousin named Nerissa.

If you're a lover of the beach and sea, and want a name that relates to the largest body of water, there are several variations you could consider.

Oceane (oh-see-EN) has been one of the chicest names in France for several years, ranking in the French Top 50. This is a sophisticated name that could easily cross the ocean, and is much more stylish than the English Ocean or Oceana.

Popular in France and Quebec, but familiar in Switzerland and Belgium too, Océane is a French nature name that combines elegance with a beachy, summery feel. It recently ranked in the French Top 300, though back in the late 90s, it was even more popular, when it featured in the Top 10.

Friendly Slavic rarity.

Pania is a possible alternative to Tania, if you want to go the New Zealand rather than Russian route.

Sweet and soft but outdoorsy too, Pasha could make an interesting alternative to Sasha. Typically used as a diminutive for Russian male names like Pavel, it has also been used for the feminine name Praskovya.

Short and feminine, Ria has a rhythmic flow.

Saffira is the softer, Latin variation of the English name Sapphire. In sound it is reminiscent of Zephyra.

The Portuguese word for sapphire was formerly a Top 100 name in Portugal.